Overdue - A Rockstar Romance

Chapter 2 - Phoebe (Present Day)

"Phoebe?" my grandmother's frail voice called from the living room.

I dropped the pile of laundry I was folding and dashed to her side. "Nanna?"

She cackled at my concern "Just need the remote dearie."

"You have got to stop doing that." I huffed, passing her the remote and fluffing the pillow behind her head.

"Doing what?" came her innocent response.

I rolled my eyes and headed back to recover the pile of fresh washing from where I had dumped it in the kitchen. Folding it didn't take long but it was one of my least favourite task so my mind soon wandered to the book I had been reading.

A high fantasy adventure full of magic, mystery and drama. What could be better than losing myself in a magical realm?

Be-be-be-beep, be-be-be-beep.

The annoying sound of my alarm broke through my daydream about Prince Caylan whisking me away to his castle where my healing magical powers were needed.

I guess there wasn't time to save the fae royal family before work. I grabbed my rucksack, swinging it over my shoulder as I ducked my head into the living room again. "I have to go now Nanna. The nurse will be in to see you at one and the community care team are coming at four to review your care plan. Don't forget to tell them how much you've struggled with walking this week." I paused for breath as she looked round at me with her rheumy eyes, "Have you got your alarm?"

"Stop fussing little Bee." She laughed, lifting the alarm button that hung on a chain around her neck and waving it as proof.

"I love you Nanna." I said wrapping one arm round her in a hug.

"Love you too Bee. Now off you pop, I've got a hot newsreader to ogle."

I laughed, "Poor man. Be good Nanna."

The door closed behind me with a soft click and I wandered up the path feeling a little like Belle in Beauty and the Beast. No one was about to jump out singing bonjour at me any time soon but the line, 'little town, it's a quiet village' could have been written about Farningham.

"Every day like the one before." I muttered under my breath as I followed the cobbled path through the village.

The postman smiled and waved at me. "Morning Paul." I waved back.

Paul had been two years above me in school but as there weren't a huge number of people travelling from here to the nearest schools, we ended up chatting.

"Morning Pheebs. How's Mrs Summers?" his gruff voice was at odds with his weedy appearance.

"Nanna is good, causing trouble as usual!" I laughed at the unsurprised look on his face.

"You would have thought pushing ninety might have tamed her." He shook his head, "Tell her I said hello." He tipped his hat and went on his way.

Yes, this was a town where people still tipped their hats and made polite conversation. Most days I loved it, my little old fashioned oasis, but in the last year or so I had been feeling more and more trapped.

No, I wasn't trapped, I could have left for university months ago. But Nanna needed me, and I loved my job in the library. My dream had always been to be surrounded by books so at least this had come true. Other dreams of becoming a successful journalist or writer had been put on the back burner for now.

Maybe one day when Nanna didn't need me so much.

A lump filled my throat at the thought. She would likely end up in a care home in the near future. It was getting harder and harder to take care of her at home. I didn't want her to go, it felt too much like admitting defeat, like letting her go.

I blinked the tears that filled my eyes away. That was a problem for another day I told myself as I reached the front of the library, an old building that resembled a converted chapel despite having always been library. It was already unlocked, meaning Richard, my irritatingly smarmy boss was already here somewhere.

I stepped in and made a beeline for the front desk. My little safe haven. A loud sniff from the non-fiction alerted me to my boss's whereabouts.

Richard was one of those people who always thought he was better than everyone. His father was a local councillor and his mother queen of the nearby social club. He didn't need the job but he liked to pretend it meant he was giving back. His assistant Cara was the true brains of the operation and potentially my closest friend. Not that that was saying much as I didn't really have any friends to speak of. The people I had spoken to had all escaped the quiet of Kent to go to university in more exciting areas. I couldn't blame them, I would have too if things had been different.

"There's some visitors coming later. Make sure you are presentable." Richard sniffed, looking me up and down as he lumbered passed.

I resisted the urge to point out that his untucked shirt and sweat marked pits were probably more off putting that my turtleneck jumper and skirt.

"Who?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"Someone Cara knows, from London. They're paying good money." He shrugged.

Of course, good money was the only thing that really mattered to him. I nodded silently dropping my eyes to the desk as I logged into the system.

"Will she be here or do I need to get the meeting room ready?" I asked, glancing up as the system loaded slowly.

"She should be here but you can get the room ready." He waved a hand as though dismissing me.

I fixed a smile on my face and walked quickly to the small kitchen that doubled as our staff room. Filling the two glass jugs with water, I tucked a packet of biscuits under my arm and made for the small meeting room. Home to chess club, neighbourhood watch, the local social committee and various other meetings it was a multipurpose room. A stack of plastic cups and a plate for the biscuits made trip two and I stood back the admire the room.

It was pretty, like everywhere else in this building. Stained glass windows over the higgledy piggledy bookshelves and old creaking wood floors. It was so familiar and safe, I had spent hours of my childhood curled up here with a book. Now, I was nineteen, not much had changed. I sighed and wandered back to the front desk it was only nine...today would be another long day.